Improvement in machines for welding chain-links



B. HERSHEY.

Machine for Welding Ghain Links.

2 Sheets--Sheet i.

N0.I65,374. PatentedAug.3,1875.

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Machlne for Welding Chain Links.

No. 166,374 PatentdAug.3,18 7 5.'

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UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIGE. I

BENJAMIN HERSHEY, OE ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH CHAINAND CAR LINK MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR WELDING CHAIN-LINKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,374, dated August3, 1875; application filed March 17, 1875 CASE E.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HERSHEY, of the city and county of Erie,and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain Improvements inWelding-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and theletters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification,in which- Figure 1 is a front view. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewon the line m 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing the form of printeffected by the action of the first set of dies. Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view of the dies.

With the exception of the dies, which are provided with cavities of anovel form, and which are designed to effect a most important result inconnection with the distribution of the surplus or excess of metal whichthe lapping of the scarfed ends of the link provides, and which rendersthe dies that efiect the first stage of the welding in my presentinvention new in themselves, my present machine is merely an improvementon the chain-machine embraced in and covered by Letters Patent of theUnited States issued to me May 20, 1873, No. l39,15l that is, thedifferent mechanical features in the two inventions are designed toproduce corresponding or similar re,- sults; but the mechanicalcombinations in the present invention are far more simplified, andconsequently far more practical, than are those described and claimed inthe patent referred to, and in this is found the chief value of mypresent improvement.

The first part of my invention consists in the form of the cavities inthe welding-dies, which are counterparts of each other, and which are ofsuch outline as will give to the welded section of the link an obovateform in cross-section, the thicker portion being at the inside of thelink, said cavities being of semi-obovate form at the center of theircurved portion, and gradually approaching the original form of theblank, until, at the junction of their curved and their straightportions, they are of saidoriginal form.

My invention consists, further, in employing, in connection with thedies referred to, finishing-dies consisting of a horn-die and a femalecap-die, the form of whose cavities are such that through their actionthe obovate print fiproduced at the welded section of the link it-hroughthe action of the first of the series of dies shall be reduced andrendered uniform with that of the original or unwelded sections of thelink.

My invention also consists in so arranging the stationary dies of thetwo sets in connection with the die-box or sleeve, and the two movabledies in connection with the plunger, as to permit of their simultaneousmovement,

{and which allows of the two different stages of the process of weldingand finishing the link being carried on in connection with differentlinks at one and the same time.

My invention also consists of a novel arrangement of stop-bar, and whichis similar to the stop-bar of my former patent in conn otion withsprings and suitable mechanism worked through a treadle, so that whilethe tension of the spring is constantly employed to drive the stop-armto such a position as to cause its shoulder to engage with a bearing-pinon the plunger, to catch and retain the same, and thus arrest thedownward movement of the traveling dies, yet simply, by depressing thetreadle, it,through its connections with the bar, so pushes the latteras to free its shoulder from all contact with the plunger, leaving thelatter free to act as impelled by the cam, and so conform, arrangement,and connection of a lever with a traveling tongue, the bedplate of aspring, and a bearing on the stop bar,

that, simply by depressing the treadle, the lever shall be causedsimultaneously to drive up the traveling tongue, to steady the link inthe j stationary die during the. process of welding,

to so push the stop-bar as to release the plunger, and to so draw on thebed-plate of the spring as to bring the latter in such position that itsutmost tension and power can be emplo ed in adding force to the downwardmovement of the plunger and the hammer-dies which it carries.

My invention also consists in arranging on the driving shaft a camwheel, and which, in connection with the bent or shoeshaped end of abearing-arm,so draws on said arm that, through its connection with thelever-arm attached to the bed plate of the spring, just as the downwardmovement of the plunger begins, the full tension of the spring shall bedeveloped, and the cam shall continue to so act against its hearing asto re lieve the operator of the pressure on the treadle during themovements of the plunger, which he would otherwise be required to exert.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows: A is arectangular frame, and which supports the entire operating mechanism. Onan intermediate cross plate or bed, A of the frame A is bolted .orotherwise firmly secured the base plate of the die-box or cylindricalsleeve B, a portion of whose front face is cut away, as shown at B, toallow access to the lower or stationary die 0, and which is secured, bya detachable fastening, b, in the lower section of the diebox orcylindrical sleeve B. 0 is the movable die, that acts in conjunctionwith the stationary die 0, and through whose joint action the firststage of the welding of the link is effected. The cavities in these dies0 C are counterparts of each other, and are of such outline as will giveto the welded section of the link an obova-te form in cross-section,thethicker portion being at the insideof the link, said cavities being ofsemi-obovatc form at the center of their curved portion, and graduallyapproaching the original form of the blank, until, at the junction oftheir curved and their straight portions, they ale of said originalform. This die 0 is movable, and is attached to a vertical travelingplunger, and which enters and works in the upper section of the die-boxor cylindrical sleeve B; and its action is further directed by means ofits lateral bearing-pins d d entering and working in the slots d cl ofthe vertical bearing-plates D D and which are secured to, and projectabove, the upper surface of the die-box or sleeve B. The upper sectionof the plunger passes through an opening, (1 of the bearing-plate A andwhichis secured to the upper cross-section D of the frame A. Thearrangement of the plunger D and its various bearings is clearly shownin Fig. 1.

To the plunger D, and above the die (3, is secured a longitudinalbearing-plate, E. At its rear section this plate E is provided with aninclined bearing, E, and against which the cam-wheel G acts- To thefront section of this plate E is secured so as to be detachable acap-die, F, and which acts in conjunction with a horn-die, F, and whichis secured at the upper section and the outer surface of the die-box B.The form and arrangement of these dies F F are clearly shown in Fig. 2.

About the form of their cavities, and the impression which they willprint on the link, there is nothing peculiar, as they simply reduce theobovate form which has been given cam-wheel G is firmly keyed on avertical driving-shaft, G and which is secured and works in suitablebearin gs g 9 attached to the upper cross-piece D and the bed A of theframe A. At the lowersection of this shaft G is a beveled gear-wheel, Gand which gears with the pinion-wheel H attached to the driving-shaft H,and which shaft is journaled in suitablebearings H H on the bed-piece AThe revolution of this shaft H revolves the shaft G and with it thecam-wheel G, and which,

through the bearing E, alternately elevates and releases the plunger D,and thus imparts the desired motion to both of the-movable dies 0 F.

precisely similar to the sliding stop-bar in my patent before referredto.

A A of the frame A. This stop-bar K is provided with a shoulder, is,which is designed to engage witha bearing-pin or stump, W, on

the rear surface of the plunger D, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. 'K is aflat plate or other spring, secured tothe outer surface of one of theuprights A of the frame A, and has its:

free end resting or bearing against the projecting end of the stop-armK. The tension of this spring K is constantly employed in so pressingthe stop-bar K as to cause its shoulder k to engage with the bearing-pink of the plunger, and thus hold its bearing E free from all contact withthe cam-wheel G, and which arrests the movement of the plunger.

L is a vertical lever, which works through a slotted bearing, a, in theintermediate crossplate A of the frame A. At its lower section thislever L is pivoted to a short lever, M, and

which is pivoted in a bearing, M", seated on 1 To the the base or bedpiece A of the frame. opposite end of this pivoted oscillating lever Mis attached, by pivot-joint connection N, the traveling tongue N, andwhich tongue is in all respects similar to the traveling tongue of myformer patent, and works through a center opening, 0, of the die 0,precisely as that tongue does. This-tongue, after the link is placed inthe die 0 to be welded, is forced up, so as to provide an interiorbearing for the same, and serves to retain it in proper position for theaction of the traveling die 0. At

its upper section the leverL is bent, as shown at L and which providesan inclined bearing, and which is designed to act against thebearing-pin k secured at the front face of the stop-arm K. Thus it willbe seen, when the K is a horizontal sliding stop-bar, and in form andfunction is in all respects This bar works in, slotted bearings a a,cutthrough the uprights lever L is so drawn down as to overcome the tensionof the springK, its bearingshoulder L will so press against thebearing-pin k on the stoparm K, as to press that arm so out as to freeits shoulder is from the bearing is of the plunger, and cause the latterto fall to such a position as will permit the cam-wheel G to engage withits bearing E, and thus operate the plunger, and of course the dies 0 F.

O is a treadlearm, and is pivoted at its upper section to the lever L,and at its lower section to a horizontal lever, 0 and which is securedto a swinging treadle, O and which is pivoted in suitable bearings, 0 0,secured to the bed-plate of the frame. This arm 0 terminates at its rearsection in a bent or shoe bearing, P, and which is designed to act inconnection with the cam P on the main driving-shaft H, and which cam isrelatively so arranged on said shaft that just before the plunger Dreaches its highest elevation through the action of the cam-wheel G, thetoe p of the cam-wheel P shall, through the bearing P, draw down thelever L, and cause said lever to draw with greater tension on the bedIt, and to which the torsion-spring R is attached, and thus the entireforce and power of this spring is acting on the upper surface of theplunger, to add weight to its downward blow, the instant it is releasedfrom the camwheel G. This cam P also, in connection with theshoe-bearing of the arm '1, performs another most important function, aswill-be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 2. After the toe pstrikes the bearing, the cam continues to so press on the arm P, as torelieve the operator from exerting any considerable pressure 011 thetreadle during the movements of the plunger. This spring bedplate R issecured in suitable bearings R on the upper surface of the bearing-plateD of the frame. At the forward section of this bed-plate R is secured anopen socket-bearing, R the parallel bearings of which pass and workthrough mortises cut in the crossplate D To the lower section of thisbearing is secured, by means of the screw-thread L and jam-nuts l I, thelever L, and which permits ot' the degree of pressure which the lever Lshall exert on the bed-plate R, and consequently upon the spring R beingregulated and adjusted. This torsion-spring R is so arranged on thebed-plate R that the outer sections of its lateral lever-arms r 1' restimmediately above the upper section of the plunger D, as clearly shownin Fig. 1. S and S are two plate-springs, and are secured, respectively,to the bed-piece A and the upper cross-plate D of the frame. Thesesprings act against the treadle-lever O and the under surface of thebed-plate R, and serve to assist in returning the difi'erent features ofthe mechanism which act in conjunction with the lever L to their normalcondition the instant the treadle O is freed from pressure.

From the foregoing full and detailed description, the operation of themachine will readily be understood. The different features of themechanism are all in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shoulder is ofthe stop-arm K being under the bearing-pin It of the plunger D. The dies0 F are silent, and will so remain until, through the action of thelever L, the stop-arm K is so acted on as to release the plunger.Through a crank, Y, engine, or any other desired motor, power is nowapplied to the driving-shaft, and which, through the bevel-pinion H andgear G communicates motion to the shaft G and cam-wheel Gr; but the dies0 F yet remain silent.

The link, having been heated, is now placed on the die 0, its lappingscarfed ends, or the section to be welded, being properly adjusted orarranged in the cavity of said die. This being done, the operatordepresses the treadle 0 and which, through the lever O and arm 0, drawsdown the lever L, when instantly all the different features of themechanism are brought into active and effective operationthat is, thedrawing down of this lever L causes its inclined bearing L so to pressagainst the bearing-pin k of the stop-arm K as to push the same toa'position thatfrees its shoulder 70 from contact with the bearingpin orstump k of the plunger, and which causes the plunger to fall with itsbearing E in position to be acted on by the cam-wheel G. .The samemovement of the lever so draws down the bed-plate'of th e spring R as toleave the lateral lever-arms of the spring in position to act on theplunger, and in being drawn down the lever L has so acted on theoscillating lever M as to cause it to drive the traveling tongue N upthrough the opening 0 in the die (J, and thus cause it to afi'ord aninterior bearing for the link, serving to steady the same, and retain itin proper position for the action of the traveling die 0'.

The pressure on the treadle O is continued until the desired welding ofthe link is effected through the hammering and plunging pressure of thedie 0, and which, through its action, gives the obovate form shown at a,Fig. 3, to the welded section of the link, and which has allowed of theproper distribution of the excess of metal which the scarfed ends of thelink provide, and secures, in connection with the finishing-dies, theworking up of the scarf.

The cam P on the driving-shaft H, by engaging with the bent bearing P onthe arm 0, so draws on the lever L as to cause the spring R suddenly todevelop its utmost tension or power on the plunger at the instant thelatter begins its fall. So soon as the link is welded the pressure. isreleased from the treadle 0 The springs R S S return all the features ofthe mechanism .to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the plunger D isagain held in a stationary position, and the tongue N having beenwithdrawn from its hearing within the link, the ready removal of thelatter is provided for.

The first stage of the welding having been thus effected, the link isnow placed on the die F for the actionof the traveling die F, and which,through its hammering action, reduces the welded section of the link tothe desired form.

-While this process is being carried on, it will readily be seen that afresh link can be placed in the die 0, and thus the separate stages ofthe welding process can be carried on, on separate links, at one and thesame time.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. The dies 0 0, having cavities of such outline as will give to thewelded section of the link an obovate form in cross-section, the thickerportion being at the inside of the link, said cavities being ofsemi-obovate form at the center of their curved portions, and graduallyapproaching the original form of the blank, until, at the junction oftheir curved and their 7 straight portion, they are of said originalform,

as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with dies 0 0, having cavities of a semi-obovatecontour, the finishish-dies F F, the same being connected, respectively,with the sleeve B and traveling plunger D, to operate substantially asde scribed, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The sliding stop-bar K and plunger D, having bearings k W, lever L,having an inclined bearin g, L, arranged in connection with abearing-pin, I0 on the stop-bar, as shown, spring K, and treadle M, thelatter secured to the lever L through a suitable connection, the Wholebeing combined and arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. In combination with the stop -arm K, pin k, and the plunger D, havingbearings, as shown, the lever L, having inclined bearing L pivoted leverM, and traveling .tongue N, the whole being combined and arranged asshown, to operate substantially as described.

5. The bed-plate R, spring R lever L, rod 0, having an outerhook-bearing, P, cam P, and lever 0 the whole being combined andarranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. HERSHEY.

Witnesses I 7 J os. T. K. PLANT, EDWIN JAMES.

